Objective To investigate the effect of naloxone on neuronal cells apoptosis induced by repeated febrile seizures(FS).Methods Warm water was used to induce 70 rats FS model 15 days after birth in this study; each rat was induced 7 times febrile seizures at one- day interval . Seventy rats were randomly divided into naloxone-treated group and FS control group, receiving injection of naloxone or saline at 5, 30, 60 min and 2 hours after FS each day respectively. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the last seizure. Neuronal cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL methods in situ cell death kit. TUNEL positive cells(TPC) were stained and counted as apoptosis in hippocampus and cortex. Ultrastructural changes of apoptosis neurons were observed under the electron microscope(EM). Results Compared with the FS control group, naloxone treatment could significantly relieve neuron apoptosis induced by repeated FS when it was used at 5, 30, 60 min after the last FS. However there was no significant difference in neuron apoptosis between 2 groups when naloxone was used at 2 hours after FS. The comparison of different naloxone administration time showed that the earlier naloxone was injected,the fewer apoptosis neurons were induced by FS.Conclusion Naloxone,as early used in proper dosage,may significantly alleviate apoptosis after repeated FS ,and protect neurons.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; genetics

Acute Disease ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Poisoning ; etiology ; prevention & control

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the emergency response and long-term intervention effects after the detection of infectious snails epidemic by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays in Hannan District, Wuhan City, and to explore the application of LAMP in early surveillance and early-warning of schistosomiasis transmission. Methods Snails picked up by the risk monitoring system in Hannan District were examined by anatomical microscopy and LAMP technology to identify the schistosomiasis infection. Emergency response and intensive intervention were initiated in the environment where positive snails appeared, and the long-term effects were evaluated. Results In May 2018, the infectious snails were detected by LAMP technology in Hannan District, and the positive snails were located in Zhujiacha, Dongzhuang Village, Obstacles and weeds were removed and buried by machine in Zhujiacha. 12 700 m2 of snails were killed by drugs, and the mortality rate of snails was more than 80%; no new seropositive persons were found in the emergency examination within 500 m of the positive snail sites. 506 people were examined in Dong Zhuang Village at the end of the year, and 30 positive IHA cases were detected with a blood positive rate of 5.93%, no positive fecal test was found, and all positive blood test patients took preventive medication. The monitoring results of sentinel rats and wild feces were all negative. Health education was carried out, 7 warning signs were deployed and refreshed, and 500 publicity brochures were distributed. After nearly three years of intensified intervention and monitoring in the villages where the positive environment is located, and the density of snails on the stubborn snail has dropped from 0.094/frame to 0.027/frame, and the positive rate of blood test in Dongzhuang Village has steadily dropped from 5.93% to 3.74%. Conclusions The infected snails missed by microscopy were detected by LAMP in Hannan District, which created conditions for the rapid emergency treatment of environment and elimination of positive snail and improved the sensitivity of the surveillance and early warning system in transmission-interrupted areas.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the management of splenic trauma

METHODSForty patients with splenic trauma underwent CEUS examination and then different management were provided according to the examination results and the general status of patients: conservative treatment (group I, n = 19); CEUS-guided injective therapy (group II, n = 6); and surgery (group III, n = 15).

RESULTSEighteen patients were cured in group I and one patient experienced rehaemorrhagia. The haemostatic effect of CEUS-guided injective therapy was obvious in all six patients in group II. Among them, one patient experienced arteriovenous fistula, which was resolved after one week of injective therapy. Fifteen patients in Group III underwent surgery and were cured.

CONCLUSIONCEUS can provide reliable information for therapy mode selection in patients with splenic trauma and can be used to guide injective therapy.

Contrast Media ; Humans ; Spleen ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Ultrasonography ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) of FOXP3 gene with susceptibility to systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese Zhuang population.

METHODSAuthor analyzed the -2383 C/T and -3281 C/A two SNPs of the FOXP3 gene promoter in 120 patients with SLE and 160 age and sex matched controls in a Chinese Zhuang population, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe distribution of the FOXP3 gene -3281 C/A polymorphism was not different between the two groups. However, the FOXP3 gene -2383 C/T polymorphism was significantly different (P<0.05) between the two groups. The relative risk of suffering from SLE of -2383T allele carriers was 1.715 times of the -2383C allele carriers (OR=1.715, 95%CI: 1.165-2.525). Consistent with the results of the genotyping analyses, the FOXP3 -2383T/-3281A haplotype frequency in patients with SLE was significantly higher than that in controls (P<0.05). The -2383T/-3281A allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of SLE (OR=2.196, 95%CI: 1.165-4.142).

CONCLUSIONThe FOXP3 gene -2383C/T polymorphism is associated with SLE, and the -2383T allele is risk factor for SLE in the population studied.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; China ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Population Groups ; ethnology ; Risk Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

BACKGROUNDCarbon disulfide (CS(2)) is a commonly used organic solvent. Many epidemiological investigations and animal experiments have indicated that learning and memory ability can be affected to different degrees after long-term exposure to CS(2), but the mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the possible mechanisms of CS(2)-related impairment of the learning and memory ability of rats, by investigating the effects of CS(2) on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and NOS mRNA expression in rat hippocampus.

METHODSRat models of toxicity were generated by inhalation of various doses of CS(2). After two months of inhaling intoxication, the activities of constitutive NOS (cNOS) and induced NOS (iNOS) in the hippocampus were measured. The levels of neuronal NOS (nNOS) mRNA and iNOS mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTScNOS activity was significantly decreased compared with controls, while iNOS activity was changed only slightly. CS(2) treatment significantly decreased nNOS mRNA levels. iNOS mRNA levels were significantly increased only at higher doses of CS(2).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of CS2 on learning and memory ability in rats is related to the activity of NOS and the expression of nNOS in the hippocampus.

Animals ; Carbon Disulfide ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spectrophotometry

OBJECTIVEAs our previous comparative proteomics study on high and low metastasis human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell strains revealed that cytokeratin 19 (CK19) was related to higher metastasis potential, we further investigated the relationship between serum CK19 level in HCC patients and their clinico-pathologic characteristics.

METHODSSerum CK19 levels of 101 normal controls and 108 pathology-proven HCC patients were determined using radioimmunoassay, and the their correlation with clinico-pathologic parameters were studied.

RESULTSThe upper limit of one-side 98% confidence interval of normal serum CK19 level was 2.3 microg/L. Among 108 HCC patients, 24 (22.2%) had increased serum CK19 level, ranging from 2.4 to 45.5 microg/L. There were 12 patients (11.1%) with increased CK19 level but normal AFP level. The percentage of poor differentiated tumor was higher in CK19 increased cases (37.5%, 9/24) than in CK19 normal cases (20.2%, 17/84). Moreover, the presence of portal vein tumor emboli was significantly higher in CK19 increased cases (25.0%, 6/24) than in CK19 normal cases (6.0%, 5/84). (Chi-square = 7.403, P < 0.01) In addition, the percentage of TNM stage III/IV tumor was significantly higher in CK19 increased patients (54.2%, 13/24) than in CK19 normal cases. (chi-square = 13.300, P < 0.005)

CONCLUSIONSome HCC patients do have increased serum CK19 level, which could be related to portal vein tumor emboli, poor tumor differentiation and advanced tumor stages.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; genetics ; Proteome ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the pathological change of rats' benign hyperplastic prostate (BHP) after radical denervation.

METHODSA total of 65 male spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) at 30 weeks age were randomly assigned into treatment group, sham surgery control group and normal control group. In surgery group, all the axonal branches of the major pelvic ganglion (MPG) supplying the bilateral prostate were truncated, followed performing of cystostomy; In sham surgery control group, only cystostomy was performed; In normal control group, no procedure was performed. The rats were sacrificed at 3, 7, 11, 15 and >or= 21 d post-operation respectively. The gross morphological changes of prostate in all animals were observed.

RESULTSIn treatment group, the prostate in 3 d post-operation showed granular solidification and shrunken volume and the changes occurred gradually over time. The glandular epithelial cells showed gradual degeneration, necrosis and detachment. The glandular epithelium became progressively thinner, the smooth muscles elongated and thinned progressively and the stromal components showed mild to moderate overgrowth. At the later stage, the glandular epithelium, glandular lumen and smooth muscles gradually disappeared and the prostate was largely replaced by connective tissues. Electron microscopic study showed that the glandular cells gradually underwent vacuolar degeneration and the structures of basement membrane became fuzzy. The smooth muscles cells degenerated overtime and the fibroblasts and collagenous fibers in the stroma overgrew slowly. At the late stage, most of the glandular cells became necrotic, the basal membrane and smooth muscle cells disappeared and collagenous fibers were highly hyperplasic. In surgery group in 3 d post-operation, the S-100 staining of nerve fiber was diffuse and disappeared after 11 d while it persisted normally in other groups. The two values in sham surgery control group showed no significant changes post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONSAfter radical denervation, the rat prostate with benign hyperplasia (gland and smooth muscles) undergoes dramatic atrophic changes and the volume decreases significantly. It suggests that this treatment may represent a novel therapy for BPH.

Animals ; Denervation ; methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Prostate ; innervation ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; surgery ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR

OBJECTIVE Lychee seed, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, recently were reported to improve the learning and memory abilities in mice. However, it is still unclear whether lychee seed saponins (LSS) can improve the cognitive function and associated mechanisms. METHODS In present studies, we established the Alzheimer disease (AD) model by injecting Aβ25-35 into the lateral ventricle of rats. Then the spatial learning and memory abilities of LSS- treated rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze, meanwhile the protein expressions of AKT, GSK3β and Tau in the hippo?campal neuron were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS The results showed LSS can improve the cognitive functions of AD rats through shortening the escape latency, increasing the number across the platform, platform quadrant dwell time and the percentage of the total distance run platform quadrant. The protein expression of AKT was significantly up-regulated and that of GSK3β and Tau were decreased remarkably in the hippocampal CA1 area. CONCLUSION Our study is the first to show that LSS significantly improve the cognitive function and prevent hippocampal neuronal injury of the rats with AD by activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, suggesting LSS may be developed into the nutrient supplement for the treatment of AD.